Fluid conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for a fluid conditioning apparatus for conditioning a fluid disposed within, wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus is in fluid communication with a self contained system. The fluid conditioning apparatus includes a housing having a surrounding sidewall positioned about a longitudinal axis, the surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the sidewall, inlet portion, and outlet portion all defining a housing interior. Further included in the fluid conditioning apparatus is structure for disbursing a selected component within the housing interior and structure for controlling the selected component disbursing to a achieve a selected fluid condition.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for conditioninga fluid for the purpose of adding and/or removing a component and/ordesirably chemically altering the undesirable component within the fluidfor an adjacent system. More particularly the present invention is anapparatus that includes a fluid mover, and selectable component adder,and a control to achieve the desired fluid properties for the adjacentsystem.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

There are many processes that require a form of fluid conditioning inchemical processing plants, oil refineries, factories, food processing,farm and animal byproduct processing, wastewater treatment, solid wastetreatment, and the like. As these aforementioned processes are usuallynecessarily for our modern economy, technology is usually applied tocontrol the undesirable environmental contaminates generated from thepreviously mentioned processes for a number of reasons, with thesecontaminants being in gaseous form, in liquid form, or in solid form.These reasons would include reduction of physical pollutants, reductionof visible pollutants, reduction of odorous contaminants, reduction ofchemical contaminants, and the like. As the concern for the environmentcontinues to increase it becomes ever more important to control thesecontaminants to lower and lower acceptable levels.

This issue of industrial process contaminant control has been fairlywell recognized in the prior art with a number of apparatus designed forcontaminant treatment that include conventional filtering systems, andother more technologically adept systems such as scrubbers that aretypically used with a contaminated gas stream, wherein a chemical isintroduced into the gas stream to bond with an undesirable contaminantin the gas stream, wherein the bonding results in typically a new solidbeing formed that can precipitate out of the gas stream due to itshigher density allowing for separation of the contaminant out of the gasstream. Another prior art gas contaminant process involves what iscalled electrostatic precipitation, wherein the suspended contaminantsare ionized, with the ionized contaminants being attracted to anelectrode, thus enabling the separation of the contaminants from the gasstream. However, all of the aforementioned systems have limitations,such as conventional filtering not having the ability to remove verysmall contaminants or well dispersed contaminants, plus temperature andpressure limitations, along with high maintenance, i.e. filtercleaning/replacement required. Further, scrubbers are limited by needingto be used with a closed loop system, i.e. contained within a series ofenclosures separated from the outside environment, which precludes opentype systems such as some wastewater and solid waste treatmentprocesses, in addition scrubbers require that the contaminant be able tobond with an introduced chemical with and form some sort of matterhaving a density higher than the gas being treated to allow separationof the contaminate from the gas being treated. In addition, forelectrostatic precipitators, much the same as for scrubbers a closedloop system would be required as previously discussed and there would bethe need for the contaminate to be ionizable to facilitate theelectrostatic attraction of the contaminate out of the polluted gasstream.

Another type of fluid decontamination is with the use of introducing adesirable odor containing fluid to mask or cover-up an undesirable odor,thus not having the requirements of using the closed loop system aspreviously described nor that the contaminant have some sort of specialproperties to enable the separation of the contaminant from the pollutedgas for instance. However, this introduction of a cover-up type ofchemical has drawbacks in control over the system that is beingdecontaminated as the actual removal or neutralization of contaminatesis not necessarily known, at least making the cover-up type of chemicalfluid decontamination apparatus less desirable when used in conjunctionwith the open type system because of this lack of control as previouslydiscussed. Also, because of the random interaction of the desirable odorcontaining fluid with the polluted gas, there is the ongoing problem ofinsufficient atomization of the introduced odor containing fluid withinthe polluted gas, thus the prior art has recognized this issue and hasdeveloped several structures to help improve atomization of theintroduced fluid being dispersed within the polluted gas for moreefficient odor control and less waste of the non atomized introducedfluid.

As a prior art example in addressing the need for improved atomizationof the introduced fluid, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,247 B1 to Romack et al.,disclosed is a liquid product vaporizing apparatus for an airdeodorizing system comprising an inlet channel, a vaporization chamber,an air blower, and distribution pipes. In Romack et al., fresh air isdrawn into the system through the inlet channel by the air blower,creating a stream of air flowing through the system. The stream of airin Romack et al., is directed to the vaporization chamber where anatomizing nozzle sprays atomized liquid product into the vaporizationchamber. The treated air stream in Romack et al., then flows throughdistribution pipes to a plurality of vapor release ports which allow thetreated air to be released into the malodorous area, reference column 3,lines 12-25. The main issues in Romack et al., are that the chamberconfiguration has no internal obstructions between the inlet and outletports; also it is utilized in an open system, i.e. taking in ambient airfor the Romack et al., inlet being in not being from a closed system. Inaddition, Romack et al., does not teach the use of a control system forachieving a selected an odor reduction level or the ability to maintainan odor level, furthermore Romack et al., does not address use inhazardous environments, i.e. explosive gases being present and the like.

A further prior art example for a conventional air freshener (not beinga scrubber or electrostatic precipitator) is in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,419to Davis that discloses a liquid air freshener dispensing device for abuilding ventilation duct being removably attachable to the duct,wherein the entire Davis system would be considered an open loop systemas the building volumetric portion is not sealed. In Davis, the duct isin communication with a heating member and a blowing member, wherein theblowing member blows air across the heating member and into the ductincluding a coalescing filter to help prevent the air freshener dropletsfrom collecting on the plenum walls as a method to further help therecognized problem of adequate atomization of the deodorant liquid inthe gas plenum. Again in Davis, there is no teaching related to acontrol system for monitoring deodorant use and effective odor controlin the building air volume nor use in hazardous (explosive or toxic)environments. Similar to Davis in U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,359 to Nowatzki isan apparatus used for building duct ventilation systems that is a selfcontained unit that utilizes a reservoir, a pump, and a dispenser fordispersing the liquid deodorant with a switch that resides on top of theventilation duct. Nowatzki also has no disclosure related to a controlsystem for sensing the odor levels and adjusting the amount ofdeodorizing fluid input.

In addition, also similar to Davis and Nowatzki, in being an airdeodorizer for building type applications, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,253 toTokuhiro et al., disclosed is a fragrant air supply system by using amist generating means by either air velocity of ultrasonic means. InTokuhiro et al., the purpose is to add fragrance, rather that removecontaminants, Tokuhiro et al., does have the features of a controllerfor measuring the concentration of fragrance, see FIGS. 6 and 7, whereinthe controller regulates the flow of the fragrance liquid and air flowinto the chamber based upon the measured concentration of the fragrance.Also, included in Tokuhiro et al., is a chamber drain to recycle liquidfragrance into the liquid fragrance reservoir that is caught by the endface 41 that removes un-evaporated mist from the fragranced air. AsTokuhiro et al., is an open loop system in that only the outputconcentration of fragranced air is measured and controlled as thefragranced air is sent to the building interior, with no feedback orreturn of air possible for recycling into the system, thus the onlycontrol is for the detection and non-detection of fragranced air withinthe building, again see FIGS. 6 and 7. A similar type apparatus againfor deodorizing, utilizing chlorite compounds is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,989,497 to Labonte Jr. that teaches a process and apparatus fordeodorizing malodorous substances with specifically a chlorinedioxide-containing composition. The apparatus in Labonte, Jr., comprisesa reservoir for supplying a concentrated deodorizing liquid, a means forsupplying water for diluting the aqueous deodorizing liquid, an eductorfor mixing the dilution water supplied and the deodorizing liquidsupplied, a means for controlling the amount of the deodorizingsolution, and a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying the deodorizingsolution, reference column 2, lines 37-46. Note that Labonte, Jr., isalso an open system primarily designed for sewers, solid waste dumps,landfills, waste lagoons, and the like. Labonte, Jr., does have somemention of a control system via the use of a monitor to detect forinstance the level of hydrogen sulfite on whether to continue or stopthe system and to select the amount of deodorizing liquid to be used,i.e. being a higher or lower flowrate. Further, note that Labonte, Jr.,does not address use in explosive or toxic environments.

Continuing, in looking at a typical prior art scrubber as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 4,844,874 to deVries disclosed is a method and means forcontrolling a mist scrubbing process in which a gas containing odorousand acidic contaminants are contacted in a reaction chamber with tinydroplets of an aqueous reagent to react with and destroy thecontaminants. In deVries, although this is an open system also, however,having monitoring based on measuring chemical properties of the spentcontaminated mist and scrubbed gas output. Specifically, in deVries thecontrol system measures pH of the spent stray liquid settling at thebottom of the chamber to control the flow of a “base” chemicallyspeaking, with this being in addition to a measurement of the acidiccomponent of the scrubbed gas leaving the reaction chamber to controlthe rate at which an oxidizing agent is injected into the system. Aspreviously discussed in scrubber systems such as deVries, there islittle concern for complete atomization of the injected mist solution asthere is expected to be residual liquid mist solution at the bottom ofthe chamber that is used to ensure bonding with the with thecontaminants, i.e. more mist is available than contaminants need to bondwith, in an attempt to have more complete scrubbing, in conjunction withthe injected mist having a “once through” application in its potentialbonding contact with the gas contaminants and is not recycled, however,as stated previously the residual mist solution is measured for pH.

Further, in looking at the prior art in this area for another opensystem that generates an open mist of decontaminant, reference U.S. Pat.No. 7,008,592 to Sias et al. wherein disclosed is a decontaminationapparatus method using an activated cleaning fluid mist fordecontamination of environments and open or exposed articles frommicrobiological organisms. The Sias et al., apparatus comprises acleaning fluid, a mist generator having an input flow of the cleaningfluid and an output flow of a mist of the cleaning fluid that containsions, from an activator to activate the cleaning fluid mist that isoperational to help increase efficiency of the decontamination processby the activated decontaminant entering into a redox reaction with themicrobiological contaminant, reference column 1, lines 62-64, column 2,lines 20-26, and column 5, lines 50-60. Next, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,025B1 to Rasouli et al., disclosed is another open loop odor generatorutilizing a disc with a porous substrate having a releasable aroma thatreacts to a control system signal that allows a variety of scents to bedisbursed from a single disc thereby allowing a computer connected tothe internet to send a signal to the odor generator to generate aselected scent from a remote location. Thus in Rasouli et al., per sethe control is not for overcoming a contaminant, however, being for aselected scent sampling from a remote location.

Continuing, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,498 to Kuivalainen disclosed is anapparatus for the purification of waste gases that includes the use ofreagents or absorbent, wherein a “wet” zone recycles the wetting zoneparticles that have been separated from the from the gas outside of thewetting zone chamber by first introducing the contaminated gases intothe wetted zone of the chamber with the absorbent or reagent insuspension. Wherein in Kuivalainen, next the wet chamber mixture of thecontaminated gas and absorbents and reagents moves to a dry chamberportion to dry the wetted particles from the wet zone with the goalbeing to re-carry the particles that are unreacted back into the wetzone to increase the efficiency of the reaction process. There is noteaching in Kuivalainen related to an active control system to regulatethe amount of transition between the wet and dry zones or the amount ofabsorbents or reagents to introduce into the system, there is somespecific test data related to empirical reactions using the apparatus,however, no ongoing control of the process is disclosed.

In addressing another area, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,330 to Johansson etal., disclosed in a method and apparatus for treating contaminatedgasses having a multi medium nozzle that allows multiple fluids to beused in a single nozzle, that can be utilized for multiple chemicalinjections simultaneously or if desired using one of the nozzle fluidfeeds to act as a cleaning agent for the nozzle that has undesirabledeposits from another injected fluid.

What is needed is a fluid conditioning apparatus that is operable forthe control of a closed loop system having feedback on contaminationlevels for a process with the ability to adjust the fluid injection rateand/or process fluid treatment flowrates to control the processcontamination levels to a selected level, in addition with thecapability for the fluid conditioning apparatus to be operable inhazardous or toxic environments, either for the closed loop processitself or the external environment that the fluid conditioning apparatusis in. Thus, the fluid conditioning apparatus could have the ability tooperate in an intrinsically safe manner with the controls in place toset the amount of fluid injected, timing intervals for fluid injection,and have a mechanism to motivate the system fluid to be conditioned at aselected flowrate until a selected de contamination level is reached forthe associated process. Further, it would be desirable to provide forremoval of a portion of the un-atomized fluid injection from the processfluid stream to ensure a higher efficiency of the fluid injectionde-contaminating the process in a shorter time period. In addition, thefluid conditioning apparatus should be skidded as a unit including thecontrol system for potential portability to be in fluid communicationwith a multitude of selected systems that need fluid de-contaminationfrom their associated processes.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention is a fluid conditioning apparatus forconditioning a fluid disposed within, wherein the fluid conditioningapparatus is in fluid communication with a self contained system. Thefluid conditioning apparatus includes a housing having a surroundingsidewall positioned about a longitudinal axis, the surrounding sidewallhaving an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the sidewall, inletportion, and outlet portion all defining a housing interior. Furtherincluded in the fluid conditioning apparatus is a means for disbursing aselected component within the housing interior and a means forcontrolling the selected component disbursing to a achieve a selectedfluid condition.

These and other objects of the present invention will become morereadily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the followingdetailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the presentinvention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional perspective view 3-3 from FIG. 1 of thefluid conditioning apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatusincluding the support structure;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatusincluding the support structure;

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional side elevation view 6-6 from FIG. 1 ofthe fluid conditioning apparatus;

FIG. 7 shows an overall fluid schematic of the fluid conditioningapparatus including an adjacent vessel that is being conditioned toachieve a selected fluid condition in the vessel;

FIG. 8 shows a fluid schematic detail of the control box enclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a detail of the component arrangement within the controlbox enclosure body;

FIG. 10 shows a detail of the component arrangement within the controlbox enclosure cover;

FIG. 11 shows a detail of the component arrangement disposed upon thecontrol box cover;

FIG. 12 shows a typical use application arrangement of the fluidconditioning apparatus with the vessel; and

FIG. 13 shows a cross section of the nozzle for injection of theselected fluid into the fluid conditioning apparatus.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

-   30 Fluid conditioning apparatus-   32 Fluid being selectably conditioned from the vessel 142-   34 Selected fluid 32 condition-   36 Incoming fluid 32 condition-   38 Outgoing fluid 32 condition-   40 Decontamination rate of the system-   42 Fluid communication (CP)-   44 Self contained system-   46 Housing-   48 Surrounding sidewall of housing 46-   50 Longitudinal axis of housing 46-   52 Inlet portion of the housing 46 surrounding sidewall 48-   54 Outlet portion of the housing 46 surrounding sidewall 48-   56 Interior of housing-   58 Closed loop fluid duct-   60 Conditioning portion of duct 58 (A)-   62 Contamination portion of duct 58-   64 Monitoring portion of duct 58-   66 Testing portion of duct 58-   68 Selected component-   70 Selected fluid of the selected component 68 (CO)-   71 Flow direction of selected fluid 70-   72 Source of selected fluid 70 (CS)-   74 Means for disbursing the selected component 68-   76 Means for controlling the selected component 68-   78 Means for producing a selected gas pressure and flow-   80 Means for monitoring the fluid 32-   82 Monitoring the fluid 32 adjacent to the inlet portion 52-   84 Monitoring the fluid 32 adjacent to the outlet portion 54-   86 Control for adjusting the selected fluid 70-   88 Atomization rate of selected fluid 70-   90 Determining a volume disbursed of the selected component 68 or    liquid 70-   92 Cycling or pulsing of the selected component 68 disbursing volume    90-   94 Determining an allowable fluid 32 flowrate-   96 Injector (H)-   98 Fluid communication of injector 96-   100 Means for moving the fluid 32-   102 Means for moving the fluid 32 disposed within the duct 58 (B)-   104 Anti-static element-   106 Fan-   108 Gas motor (G)-   110 Sound attenuation for the gas motor 108-   111 Flow direction of the gas-   112 Air supply (AS)-   114 Enclosure body (C)-   115 Enclosure cover (C)-   116 Power switch-   118 Air timers-   119 Pump—gas/liquid-   120 Pilot valve-   122 Air supply compressor-   124 Primary air control (D)-   126 First regulated air supply-   128 Second regulated air supply (E)-   130 Controlled air supply to injector nozzle 96 (AO)-   131 First air control to power motor 108 (RA1)-   132 Secondary air control to enclosure 114 and 115 components    including pump 119, air timer 118, and power switch 116 (RA2)-   134 Earth point (EP)-   136 Sample points (SP)-   138 Support structure-   140 Suction drum-   142 Vessel-   144 Vessel inlet portion-   146 Vessel outlet portion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1 shown is a perspective view of thefluid conditioning apparatus 30, FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view ofthe fluid conditioning apparatus 30, and FIG. 3 shows a cross sectionalperspective view 3-3 from FIG. 1 of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30.Continuing, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioningapparatus 30 including the support structure 138 that the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 is disposed within, FIG. 5 shows a sideelevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 including thesupport structure 138 from FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows a cross sectionalside elevation view 6-6 from FIG. 1 of the fluid conditioning apparatus30. Yet further, FIG. 7 shows an overall fluid schematic of the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 including an adjacent vessel 142 that is beingconditioned to achieve a selected fluid 32 condition within the vessel142 and FIG. 8 shows a fluid schematic detail of the control boxenclosure body 114 and enclosure cover 115. Next, FIG. 9 shows a detailof the component arrangement within the control box enclosure body 114and FIG. 10 shows a detail of the component arrangement within thecontrol box enclosure cover 115. Continuing onward, FIG. 11 shows adetail of the component arrangement disposed upon the control boxenclosure cover 115 and FIG. 12 shows a typical use applicationarrangement of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 with the vessel 142whose fluid 32 is being selectably conditioned. Further, FIG. 13 shows across section of the nozzle 96 for injection 98 of the selected fluid 70into the fluid conditioning apparatus 30.

Broadly stated, in referring to FIGS. 1 to 11 the present invention ofthe fluid conditioning apparatus 30 that is for selectably conditioning34 a fluid 32 disposed within the fluid conditioning apparatus 30,wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 is in fluid communication 42with a self contained or termed closed loop system in the form of avessel 142, as shown in FIG. 12. Returning to FIGS. 1 to 11, the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 includes a housing 46 having a surroundingsidewall 48 positioned about a longitudinal axis 50, the surroundingsidewall 48 having an inlet portion 52 and an outlet portion 54. Thesidewall 48, the inlet portion 52, and the outlet portion 54 alldefining a housing interior 56, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Furtherincluded in the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 is a means 74 fordisbursing a selected component 68 within the housing 46 interior 56 anda means 76 for controlling the selected component 68 disbursing to aachieve a selected fluid condition 34 ultimately within the vessel 142.

Starting with the housing 46, as best detailed in FIGS. 3 and 6,in-between the inlet portion 52 and the outlet portion 54 thatrespectively interface via the fluid communication 42 with the vessel142 being specifically the vessel inlet portion 144 and the vesseloutlet portion 146, essentially forming the self contained system 44,see FIG. 12 for the use view of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 andbasic layout of the self contained system. Returning to FIGS. 3 and 6,looking at particular at the housing 46 being termed a duct, it can beseen that there is the conditioning portion 60 being downstream from theselected component 68 injection point continuing toward the outletportion 54, note that as shown with the means 100 for moving the fluidbeing optional, as the means 100 may exist outside of the housing 46 oreven outside of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30, with the means 100possibly being disposed within the fluid communication 42 or vessel 142.Just upstream from the housing conditioning portion 60 is thecontamination portion 62 of the duct or being adjacent to the inletportion 52 of the housing 46, thus being the point operationally wherethe fluid 32 communication is substantially directly from the vessel 142via the fluid communication 42 as previously described. In addition asuction drum 140 is optionally provided to help knock out liquidcomponents coming into the inlet portion 52 to help prevent damage tothe means 100 for moving the fluid 32.

Continuing on the housing 46, there are also means 80 for monitoring thefluid 32 in what is termed sample points 136 on the housing 46 and thevessel 142, with the monitoring portion 64 of the duct being positionedadjacent to the inlet portion 52, wherein monitoring 82 at portion 64 isused to ascertain substantially the fluid 32 condition 36 in the vessel142 or optionally directly monitoring the fluid 32 condition 36 at thevessel 142. Going further downstream with the flow of the fluid 32within the housing 46, a testing portion 66 is positioned adjacent tothe outlet portion 54, for monitoring 84, that is operationally used toascertain the change in fluid 32 condition from the monitoring portion64, with the information being used for control of means 74 fordisbursing the selected component 68 and/or the means 76 for controllingthe selected component 68 as subsequently described. Further to ensureanti-static properties of the housing 46, earth points 134 are providedfor on the housing 46 and possibly on the fluid communication 42 oranywhere else the specific vessel 142 procedures require earth points134. Looking at particular on the housing 46 the materials ofconstruction are preferably aluminum, with alternatives of stainlesssteel, or any various composite type materials than may exhibitanti-static or other desired anti-corrosion properties. Other housing 46materials would be acceptable providing that the functionalcharacteristics of the alternative materials would be acceptableespecially in the area of compatibility with the fluid 32 and theattendant environmental conditions such a corrosiveness, flammability,vessel 142 internal pressure, and the like.

Looking in detail at the selected component 68, which is typically aselected fluid 70 that is atomizable into the fluid 32 within thehousing 46 interior 56 at the previously mentioned conditioning portion60 of the duct or housing 46. However, note that the selected component68 could be a solid, liquid or gas, or combination thereof. As best seenin FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically and FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the fluid 70has a flow direction 71 as originating from a source 72. Note that thefluid 70 is preferably a liquid; however, it could also be in a gaseousform also. The fluid 70 is a selected chemical composition that isdetermined by the particular decontamination required within the vessel142, and is preferably atomized to substantially be a dry vapor as it iscommunicated to the vessel 142.

Continuing, the means 76 for controlling is preferably operable bydetermining a volume of the component 68 disbursed resulting in aparticular decontamination rate 40 of the system being the combinationof the fluid conditioning apparatus 30, the vessel 142 and the adjacentfluid communication 42, see FIG. 12, wherein the means 76 further breaksdown into the control 86 for adjusting the component 68 or typicallybeing the selected fluid 70. The preferred method of accomplishing themeans 76 is by the use of an air timer 118 in conjunction with an airoperated pump 119, wherein the air timer 118 is operated at a selectedsetting for the timing period based upon achieving the selected fluidcondition 34 ultimately within the vessel 142 as best shown in FIGS. 8to 12. In addition, a power switch 116 controls the air supply betweenthe air timers 118.

Continuing, the pneumatic timers 118, see FIG. 11, regulate thepneumatic air supply to the air pump 119 thereby controlling the pumpingof the selected fluid 70 into the injector 96. Referring to FIG. 8primarily, and also to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, the timers 118 are in seriesto one another for their fluid communication signals, wherein the pilotvalve 120 works by sending a signal to one of the timers 118 via thepower switch 116, with the pilot valve 120 receiving a timed signal froma timer 118 which allows the pilot valve 120 to send a signal to theother series timer 118 and thus the liquid or selected fluid 70initiating flow from pump 119. With the process being cyclical, with theother timer 118 adjacent to the pump 119 completing its time sequence,then the process starts again. Thus, the pulsing or stroke of the pump119 is controllable through the adjustment of the timers 118.

An inline gas analyzer could be introduced that is in fluidcommunication with the duct 58 that would allow the treated vessel 142fluid 32 when it reaches the desired outgoing fluid condition 38 to bereleased to the external (outside) environment. The air timer 118 ispreferably a make and model number SMC-VR2110/VM13 or a suitablefunctional equivalent. The power switch 116 is preferably a make andmodel number SMC-VM4P or a suitable functional equivalent. Further, thepump 119 is preferably a make and model number SMC-PB1013-01 or asuitable functional equivalent. The means 76 that utilizes the air timer118 and the pump 119 is principally schematically shown in FIG. 8 andphysically shown in FIGS. 9-11 with the schematic association with thefluid conditioning apparatus 30 in overall schematic shown in FIG. 7.The selected pump 119 volume as measured in cubic centimeters per unittime and is in the range of about zero (0) to five-hundred (500)cubic-centimeters per hour (cc/hr). Further, the pilot valve 120 ispreferably a make and model number SMC-SYA-5220-01 or a suitablefunctional equivalent.

Alternatively, the means 76 could be operable by cycling the component68 disbursing to a higher and a lower volume over a time period, or inother words selectively pulsating 92 the component 68 volumetricflowrate, being operational to preferably add a greater degree offlexibility to the timing and amount of the selected component 68 thatis disbursed within the housing interior 56, ultimately helping to movetowards a more desired fluid 32 conditioning 34 within the vessel 142.Wherein, the pulsating of the component 68 would also be preferablyaccomplished by the aforementioned air timer 118 and the pump 119 by thecontrol of the flow 111 of the gas or air to the pump 119. The selectedpulsating volume of the pump 119 as measured in cubic centimeters perunit time with a no flow time period is in the range of about zero (0)to five-hundred (500) cubic-centimeters per hour (cc/hr).

Further, alternatively the means 76 for controlling could be operable bydetermining an allowable fluid 32 flowrate 94 therethrough the inletportion 52 and the outlet portion 54. The fluid flowrate is best shownin FIG. 12 as the inlet fluid 32 condition 36 and moving toward theoutlet fluid 32 condition 38 or this could be termed as the rate offluid 32 conditioning or treatment. This flowrate is typically in therange of about 0.61 cubic meters per second (cm/s) or about 1,293 CFM,at a fan rotational speed of about 2,770 rpm, however, the flowratecould be more or less depending upon the application specifics such asvessel 142 contamination amount, the chemical makeup of the selectedcomponent 68, and the rate at which the selected component is dispersedwithin the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 interior 56. The method ofcontrolling the fluid 32 flowrate through the fluid conditioningapparatus 30 can be accomplished by conventional valving either disposedwithin the housing 46 interior 56 or outside of housing 46 and adjacentto the fluid 32 communication 42 to or within the vessel 142 and/or byway of adjusting the volumetric flow rate of the means 100 for movingthe fluid 32 from the inlet portion 52 to the outlet portion 54 beingpreferably by varying fan rotational speed (rpm) or alternative methodssuch as changing fan blades or any functional equivalent. The controlfor selecting the flowrate of the fluid 32 from the inlet portion 52 tothe outlet portion 54 of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 isdetermined from the fluid 32 achieving the selected condition at theincoming point 36 which substantially reflects the condition of thefluid 32 within the vessel 142, as opposed to the condition of the fluid32 that is outgoing 38 that has typically the addition of the selectedcomponent 68. This determination of the fluid 32 condition can wither bedone manually or in an automated fashion. Further, the means 76 forcontrolling the selected component 68 could be acceptably accomplishedby components other that the aforementioned air timer 118 and pump 119as long as the generally described function of the means 76 ismaintained.

Continuing on the means 100 for moving the fluid 32 as best shown inFIG. 6, it is preferably adaptable for operation within a compressiblefluid 32 as typically the fluid 32 is in gaseous form, and further asthe fluid 32 can contain volatile, flammable, and/or toxic componentsthe means 100 can be intrinsically safe in its operation being definedas not having the ability to provide a source of ignition to the fluid32, with this entailing a multitude of design factors such as the nonuse of any electrical power, having non static electricity generatingcomponents, using micro power levels for signaling that do not reach anignition threshold, and the like. The means 100 allows for a selectedfluid 32 flowrate 94 through the housing 46. Thus, also preferably thedynamic component of the means 100 has anti-static 104 elementproperties, principally being the fan 106 portion that is disposedwithin the interior 56 of the duct 58 resulting in the means 102 formoving the fluid 32 in the interior 56 or within the duct 58. Thisresults in the means 100 for moving the fluid 32 and the means 102 formoving the fluid 32 within the duct 58 are preferably an intrinsicallysafe fan 106 for use in hazardous atmospheres with a fan type of a CBI,at a rotational speed of 2770 RPM, having an Atex category of CE Ex II3Gc with a rating of 0.61 cubic meters and pressure of 2,490 Pascalsmanufactured by Halifax fans. The fan itself can have brass rubbingstrips, or brass positioned in potential contact/rub areas to minimizethe chance of spark as an ignition source. The aforementioned fan beingpreferably driven by an air or gas motor 108 of about 3.6 HP at 130 CFMmotor intake flowrate operating at 2,700 RPM, also preferably includingan exhaust silencer 110 that is preferably a make and model Apro-SLD050or suitable equivalent. Note that alternative fans and motors could beutilized that meet the previously described criteria or primarilyoperating in a compressible fluid and being intrinsically safe inoperation.

Continuing, the means 74 for disbursing the selected component 68 asbest shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is preferably an injector 96, see FIG. 13 forcross sectional detail, that could also be termed an atomizer aspreferably a brand GTC model number MWB 1520B1C that is disposed withinthe interior 56 of the housing 46, wherein operationally the means 74atomizes the selected component 68 to be disbursed within the fluid 32ultimately being for interaction with the fluid components originatingfrom within the vessel 142 to achieve the selected fluid 32 condition34. The selected injector 98 controls the atomization rate 88 of theselected fluid 70 and for determining a volume 90 of the selectedcomponent 68 of fluid 70 that is communicated 98 through the injector96. However, other injectors could also be utilized that are similar infunction to the GTC unit described above. Further, other componentsdifferentiated from the described injector 98 also could be utilizedprovided that they are operational to atomize the selected component 68into the fluid 32 similar to the previously described means 74. Inreferring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 12, it can be seen that the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 has an optional support structure 138 that canbe in the form of a frame that can “skid” the fluid conditioningapparatus 30 for enhanced portability and providing a mount for thecontrol 86 via the enclosures 114 and 115, in addition to various othercomponents such as the sound attenuation element 110 and other variouscomponents.

In looking at the previously described means 76 controlling, the means74 for disbursing, and the means 100 for moving the fluid 32, all or aportion of can be a part of the same control system that is operable inan intrinsically safe manner, resulting in preferably a non-electricalsystem that is primarily disposed within the control 86 that is disposedwithin enclosure body 114 and enclosure cover 115 that is best shownschematically in FIGS. 7 and 8, and physically in FIGS. 9 and 10, and asincorporated into the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 in FIGS. 1, 2, 4,and 5. Thus, in the enclosure which includes the respective housinghalves of the aforementioned enclosure body 114 and the enclosure cover115 that contain the components of the pneumatic controller assembly128, the gas driven pump 119, the pilot valve 120, the power switch 116,and the air timers 118. Wherein the means 78 for producing a selectedgas pressure and flowrate preferably includes the source of thepneumatic energy from an air supply compressor 122 being considered asair supply 112 that feeds the primary air control 124 including thefirst regulated air supply 126 that branches off a line 131 that is influid communication with the motor 108 and continuing to the secondregulated air supply 128 whose outlet is a line 132 that is in fluidcommunication with the enclosure body 114. In focusing on FIGS. 8 to 10the direction of pneumatic gas flow being denoted by 111, that feeds theair pump 119, the pilot valve 120, and the air timers 118, with thepower switch 116 controlling air between the air timers 118.

The injector 96, as best shown in FIG. 13 is disposed within theconditioning portion 60 receives a controlled air supply 130 from thecontrol enclosure 86 and the controlled flow of the selected fluid 70 tofacilitate the controlled or selected atomization rate 88 of theselected fluid 70 into the fluid 32 within the housing 46 interior 56again for achieving a selected fluid 32 condition 43 within the vessel142. The control of the atomization rate 88 of the selected fluid 70 isas previously described for the means 74 for disbursing and the means 76for controlling that covers the flowrate of the selected fluid 70through the injector 96 and the optional pulsation of the fluid 70flowrate through the injector 96. Further, an optional control systemcan monitor the fluid 32 between the inlet portion 52 and the outletportion 54 to adjust the selected fluid 70 injection into the fluid 32that is disposed within the housing 56 volumetrically and/or pulsationwise in possible conjunction with the fan 106 fluid 32 flowrate toautomate the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 into a system forautomatically achieving the selected fluid 32 condition 34 within thevessel 142.

What this results in is that the means 76 for controlling the selectedcomponent 68 as related to achieving the selected fluid condition 34 inthe vessel 142 is all facilitated in an intrinsically safe manner, andin this particular embodiment without the use of electrical power orsignaling, thus eliminating the source for ignition, allowing the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 to operate in flammable or hazardousenvironments. Thus, in a specific embodiment sense, control of theinjector 96 fluid 70 flowrate and pulsation, in addition to the fan 106are all done in an intrinsically safe manner by not having eitherelectrical power or signaling present via the use of pneumatic air forboth power and signaling purposes.

Method of Use

Referring in particular to FIG. 12 showing the fluid conditioningapparatus 30 in use, a method for using the fluid conditioning apparatusis disclosed that includes the steps of firstly of providing the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 that includes a housing 46 having asurrounding sidewall 48 positioned about a longitudinal axis 50. Withthe surrounding sidewall 48 having an inlet portion 52 and an outletportion 54, resulting in the sidewall 48, inlet portion 52, and outletportion 54 all defining the housing interior 56. Further included in thefluid conditioning apparatus 30 is the means 74 for disbursing 88 theselected component 68 within the housing 46 interior. Also furtherincluded in the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 is the means 76 forcontrolling the selected component 68 disbursing 88 to achieve theselected fluid condition 34 in addition to providing the means 100 formoving the fluid 32. Wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 itselfis best shown in a detailed manner in FIGS. 1 to 11.

Continuing, in returning to reference FIG. 12, as local conditionsrequire, the fluid communication 42 lines would be interconnected asbetween the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 and the vessel 142,resulting in a closed loop or self contained system 44, wherein thefluid communication is grounded electrically having an earth point ifrequired by local codes. Further to this on the fluid conditioningapparatus 30 itself the earth point 134, see FIGS. 2 and 5, would beplaced in electrical communication with an applicable grounding point.Wherein the vessel 142 would need degassing or other decontamination,with a typical example being the undesirable presence of flammable orhazardous vapors residing within the vessel, wherein the vessel has beenemptied of its original fluid for repair, cleaning and the like. Ofcourse there is an environmental impact to be considered if theseundesirable vessel 142 gases were simply purged out into the atmospherewithout any type of treatment, thus neutralizing to an extent theenvironmentally adverse properties of these flammable and/or hazardousgases is in important consideration. Thus, in a closed system or asbeing termed a self contained system 44, removes the requirement for airor another medium to be introduced into the treatment area to replacethe external environment atmosphere as it is being taken out of or movedthrough the system. This results in the present system being able todraw off vapor from the vessel 142 needing treatment then conditioningit through the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 and eventually releasingit to the atmosphere when the treatment is completed.

Further, a next step is activating the means 100 for moving the fluid 32that is preferably in the form of the air operated motor 108 that isrotationally coupled to the fan 106 to initiate the movement of thefluid 32 within the closed loop or self contained system 44 as shown inFIG. 12. Note that as previously described the means 100 for moving thefluid 32 is also preferably set up to operate in an intrinsically safemanner, i.e. being operable in a flammable environment as the fan motor108 is air driven and the fan 106 itself is constructed of anon-sparking material in conjunction with having anti-static generationproperties. Note that the volumetric rate at which the fluid 32 is movedwithin the fluid conditioning apparatus 30, the fluid communication 42and the vessel 142 can optionally be variable as operationally alteringthe introduction of the selected component 68 or fluid 70 into thevessel 142. The variable volumetric rate for the fluid 32 by of themeans 100 for moving the fluid 32 can be accomplished by controlling theamount of air feed into the motor 108 and thus the motor 108 RPM and fan106 RPM, alternatively or in combination the fan 106 be adjustable orinterchanged with a fan 106 of a different size that would also resultin a different volumetric rate for the fluid 32.

Continuing, a next step is in activating the selected component 68disbursing within the interior 56 of the housing 46, which is toessentially control the selected fluid 70 being the preferred portion ofthe selected component 68 introduction into the fluid 32 that in turninteracts with the typically undesirable gases present within the vessel142 to condition these gases to help make the vessel 142 safe for itsplanned repair, cleaning, or maintenance and to treat these undesirablegases so as to be environmentally acceptable. In initially using thecontrol 86 that is housed in the enclosure body portion 114 and it'smating enclosure cover 115 as best shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the control86 or means 76 for controlling the selected component 68 or preferablyselected fluid 70, wherein the means 76 preferably includes pneumatictimers 118 and the air pump 119, wherein the selected fluid 70 isregulated as to dosing or volume 90 length/cycle or pulsing 92 of theselected fluid 70 as atomized 88 through the nozzle injector 96 into thefluid 32 stream within the housing 46.

This is accomplished by adjusting the pneumatic timers 118, see FIG. 11,that in turn regulate the air supply to the air pump 119 therebycontrolling the pumping of the selected fluid 70 into the injector 96.Referring to FIG. 8 primarily, and also to FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, thetimers 118 are operable to be in series to one another for their fluidcommunication signals, wherein the pilot valve 120 works by sending asignal to one of the timers 118 via the power switch 116, with the pilotvalve 120 receiving a timed signal from a timer 118 which allows thepilot valve 120 to send a signal to the other series timer 118 and thusthe liquid or selected fluid 70 initiating flow from the pump 119, withthe process being cyclical with the other timer 118 adjacent to the pump119 completing its time sequence, then the process starts again. Thus,the pulsing or stroke of the pump 119 is controllable through theadjustment of the timers 118. Once the means 100 to move the fluid 32 isactivated and the selected fluid 70 is regulated as to dosing or volume90 length/cycle or pulsing 92 of the selected fluid 70 the process iscontinued for a period known as the monitoring step to achieve theselected fluid condition 34 after a selected time period. It can bepossible to engage in using the control 86 including the means 76 toreadjust multiple times the selected fluid 70 being regulated as todosing or volume 90 length/cycle or pulsing 92 of the selected fluid 70in the process in being continued for a period known as the monitoringstep and the using step in combination to further achieve the selectedfluid condition 34 in the vessel. Additionally, additional injector 96points could be added at various selected points within the fluidconditioning apparatus 30, fluid communication 42, and/or the vessel 142as desired with each of their accompanying control 86 systems aspreviously described or with the multiple injectors 96 operating from acentral control 86 system.

As a further optional refinement of the monitoring step, when monitoringthe selected fluid condition 34 further comprises monitoring an outgoingfluid condition 38 at the outlet portion 54 and monitoring an incomingfluid condition 36 at the inlet portion 52 that is operational toascertain a decontamination rate of the system or defined as achievingthe selected fluid condition 34 within the vessel 142, thus allowing theuse of the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 to stop. However, there couldbe a situation that even after achieving the selected fluid condition 34with the fluid conditioning apparatus 30 there may be a dwell timeperiod to re-test the fluid 32 for undesired flammable, hazardous, orother properties and possibly re-initiate the use of the fluidconditioning apparatus 30 as previously described. When the selectedfluid condition 34 is finally achieved without the need for remonitoringof the selected fluid condition 34 then the fluid communication 42 canbe removed from the vessel and atmospheric air or the environmentalatmosphere can be introduced into the vessel 142.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the present invention of a fluid conditioning apparatus 30has been described with some degree of particularity directed to theembodiment(s) of the present invention. It should be appreciated,though; that the present invention is defined by the following claimsconstrued in light of the prior art so modifications or changes may bemade to the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention withoutdeparting from the inventive concepts contained therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fluid conditioning apparatus toselectably condition a fluid disposed within a vessel, wherein saidfluid conditioning apparatus is in closed loop fluid communication withthe vessel, said fluid conditioning apparatus comprising: (a) a closedloop fluid duct including a conditioning portion, a contaminationportion, a monitoring portion, an inlet portion, and an outlet portionto define a fluid duct interior, said inlet portion is in closed fluidcommunication with an outlet portion of the vessel, and said outletportion is in closed fluid communication with an inlet portion of thevessel to define a self contained closed loop system; (b) a source of aselected liquid; (c) a compressor for producing a pneumatic energysource resulting in a selected gas pressure and flow; (d) an injectoradjacent to said conditioning portion, said injector in fluidcommunication with said source of the selected liquid and saidcompressor for producing a selected gas pressure and flow; (e) a meansfor moving the fluid that is disposed within said duct; (f) a means formonitoring the fluid that is in fluid communication with said duct inletportion to operationally monitor the fluid disposed within the vessel;and (g) a control for adjusting the selected liquid desired atomizationrate and pulsation cycles in conjunction with determining an allowableinlet condition of the fluid from said duct inlet portion as determinedby helping to achieve the selected condition of the fluid, whereinoperationally to determine if the fluid disposed within the vessel needsfurther conditioning via recycling in the self contained closed loopsystem or the fluid is sufficiently conditioned to be released to theexternal outside environment.
 2. A fluid conditioning apparatusaccording to claim 1 further comprising a support structure for saidduct.
 3. A fluid conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid duct inlet portion further comprises a suction drum.
 4. A fluidconditioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means formoving the fluid is constructed of a fan that is motor driven, whereinsaid motor is powered by an energy source selected from the groupconsisting of pressurized air and pressurized gas.
 5. A fluidconditioning apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fan isconstructed of brass in a potential contact area to operationallyminimize the potential for a spark as between said fan and said fluidduct interior.
 6. A fluid conditioning apparatus according to claim 1wherein said duct further comprises a testing portion that is operableto monitor the fluid at said duct outlet portion in conjunction withsaid means for monitoring the fluid at said inlet portion to providecontrol feedback on a change in the fluid condition as the fluid passesthrough the vessel.
 7. A method for using a fluid conditioning apparatusto selectably condition a fluid disposed within a vessel, wherein saidfluid conditioning apparatus is in closed loop fluid communication withthe vessel, said method for using said fluid conditioning apparatuscomprising the steps of: (a) providing a fluid conditioning apparatusthat includes a housing having a surrounding sidewall positioned about alongitudinal axis, said surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion andan outlet portion, said sidewall, inlet portion, and outlet portiondefining a housing interior, said inlet portion is in closed fluidcommunication with an outlet portion of the vessel, and said outletportion is in closed fluid communication with an inlet portion of thevessel to define a self contained closed loop system, a means fordisbursing a selected component within said housing interior, and ameans for controlling said selected component disbursing to a achievethe selected fluid condition at said fluid conditioning apparatus inletportion to operationally monitor the fluid disposed within the vessel;(b) activating said selected component disbursing; (c) monitoring saidselected fluid condition after a selected time period; (d) using saidmeans for controlling to determine said selected component disbursingamount based upon moving toward achieving the selected fluid condition;(e) continuing to condition the fluid to determine if the fluid disposedwithin the vessel needs further conditioning via recycling in the selfcontained closed loop system; and (f) determining if the fluid issufficiently conditioned to be released to the external outsideenvironment.
 8. A fluid conditioning apparatus to selectably condition afluid disposed within a vessel, wherein said fluid conditioningapparatus is in closed loop fluid communication with the vessel, saidfluid conditioning apparatus comprising: (a) a housing having asurrounding sidewall positioned about a longitudinal axis, saidsurrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, saidsidewall, inlet portion, and outlet portion defining a housing interior,said inlet portion is in closed fluid communication with an outletportion of the vessel, and said outlet portion is in closed fluidcommunication with an inlet portion of the vessel to define aself-contained closed loop system; (a1) a compressor constructed of anair pump including an air timer for producing a pneumatic energy sourceresulting in a selected air pressure and flow; (b1) an injector in fluidcommunication with said compressor and with said housing interior,wherein said injector operationally disburses a selected componentwithin said housing interior; and (c) a means for continuous controllingsaid selected component disbursing to achieve a selected fluid conditionat said inlet portion via said air timer being operated at a selectedsetting for a timing period to operationally monitor the fluid disposedwithin the vessel, wherein operationally to determine if the fluiddisposed within the vessel needs further conditioning via recycling inthe self-contained closed loop system or the fluid is sufficientlyconditioned to be released to the external outside environment.